Denis Edward LaSota

Denis Edward LaSota

AGE: 74 • Kennett Square, PA

Denis LaSota died on January 10 at the Heartland Hospice House in Wilmington, DE where he was in the care of his wife and daughters and a wonderful staff. He was diagnosed with cancer on December 15 while in Fort Myers, FL and flew home two days later to be among family and friends.

Denis was born in Yonkers, NY on April 26, 1941 to Edward LaSota and Helen Prentki LaSota. He attended St. Casimir grade school and graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Yonkers. In 1962, he graduated from Manhattan College with a BS in chemistry. He went to work in the NY State Department of Health but soon was hired by Hercules, Inc. to work in Kenvil, NJ. In 1964, he married Barbara Galadja LaSota, his love until her death in 1997.

Denis's career with Hercules took him from Kenvil, NJ to Hopewell, VA, where he earned an MBA from the University of Richmond, to Wilmington, DE, then to Atlanta, GA, and back to Wilmington, where he retired from the company in 1996. He then worked for five years as a consultant in the food chemicals business.

Denis married Jane Holloway in 1998 after considerable match making on the part of mutual friends, and they made every effort to live life to its fullest over the next 17 and a half years. Hiking trips in the National Parks of the United States were their favorite vacations along with time spent in Pelican Preserve in Fort Myers, FL. In addition to their vacations in the National Parks, they made a point of getting to every location on their "bucket list." Denis had a lifelong passion for golf which he learned by caddying as a young boy. He loved playing with his golf friends at Hercules Country Club, Wilmington Country Club and Pelican Preserve Golf Club. Denis enjoyed geography, astronomy, many genres of music, bird watching, nature walks, sunrises, sunsets, studying weather patterns, daily long walks with Jane, and making new friends while cherishing old ones.

In addition to his wife, Denis is survived by his daughters, Michele Nelson (David Nelson) of King William, VA and Suzie LaSota (Andy Zimmerman) of Wilmington, two adored grandchildren, Andrew LaSota and Daisy Zimmerman, sister, Janet Powers (Mark Powers) of Latham, NY, nephews, Scott and Michael Carpentieri, stepdaughter, Erika Stillabower (Josh Izenberg) of Washington, DC, stepson, Chris Stillabower (Eugenia Stillabower) of Washington, DC and 3 step-grandchildren, William and Katherine Izenberg and Michael Stillabower.

A memorial service will be held on January 30, 2016 at St. Joseph on the Brandywine, 10 Old Church Road, Greenville, DE at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to The Ministry of Caring, 1803 W. Sixth Street, Wilmington, DE 19805.

CREMATION SERVICE

OF DELAWARE